It was, indeed, a happy new year for air cargo shippers at the world's busiest airport.

Airport officials announced in late December that Cargolux Airlines added a flight from Atlanta to Luxembourg. The additional flight brings the carrier's total to three weekly departures from Hartsfield-Jackson.

Cargolux, the largest all-cargo carrier in Europe, now lifts an additional 70 tons of cargo each week at the Airport thanks to the new flight. The service is estimated to produce a financial impact of up to $3 million for the City of Atlanta and the Southeast region.

"Cargolux is among our list of premier all-cargo carriers," said Arnaldo Ruiz, assistant general manager for commercial development. "We believe Cargolux's transatlantic service will truly be an economic stimulus for the region by bringing more jobs and revenue."

Now with 13 all-cargo carriers and capacity for growth, Hartsfield-Jackson is the 11th busiest cargo airport in the United States and No. 22 globally, handling nearly 721,000 tons of cargo.

"With 230 tons of cargo currently available for lift, we are very interested in talking with quality freight operators about opportunities at Hartsfield-Jackson," added Ruiz. "As part of our goal to offer more global destinations, we are also connecting with carriers that provide direct service to mainland China and Latin America."

The cargo industry will arrive in Atlanta as Aviation officials host the International Air Cargo Association Forum and Exhibition in 2012. The event will mark a major milestone for the city, which will have hosted the first Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition 50 years earlier. The exhibition is projected to generate an estimated $8 million for the local economy.